On the Durban II boycott

One of many European rightwing politicians to call for boycott of the Durban II conference in Geneva is Danish far-right leader Pia Kjærsgaard. In a statement, she meant that

"The purpose of the conference is to fight racism - a phenomenon that, honestly speaking, is rather marginal in Europe and the Western world today"

('Konferencens egentlige formål er bekæmpelse af racisme – et fænomen, som hånden på hjertet formentlig er temmelig marginalt i Europa og den vestlige verden i dag').

Kjærsgaard's statement clarifies an important point, namely that there is a convergence between the defense of Israel and rejection of any serious discussion on the actual problems of discrimination and marginalization of minorities in Europe. In a way, Ahmadinejad's speech is just a pretext to avoid facing the actual issues at hand.

Enhedslisten (a leftwing party) politician Asmaa Abdol-Hamid sharply criticizes Kjærsgaard's positions on Durban II. In a comment to Politiken, she says that

"Pia Kjærsgaard rejects the notion that there is racism in Europe. Obviously there is racism, and of course it should be fought. The statements of DF [Danish People's Party, Kjærsgaard's party] are living proofs of that."

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"These atrocities are mediaeval carnage in modern times" - Bangladesh speaks out against Israeli aggression at U.N. session in Geneva

Whilst EU and USA keep propping up Israel in the midst of on-going war crimes, new Bangladeshi government has continued on the line of sharply condemning the Israeli assault on the Gaza strip. Bangladesh has dubbed the aggression as a flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian laws.

Bangladesh sponsored a special Human Rights Council (HRC) on January 9, 2009, along with the OIC, Non-Aligned Movement and Arab groups, to discuss the developments in occupied Palestine. At the session the Bangladeshi ambassador at the U.N. in Geneva, Debapriya Bhattacharya, said that "These atrocities are mediaeval carnage in modern times", referring to the conduct of Israel.

Bhattacharya demanded that the parties immediately implement the resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council. The Bangladeshi government has also called on Israel to stop its interference with deliveries of humanitarian supplies.

Source: Daily Star